WHAT LIES BENEATH
Episode 22
By AMAH’S HEART.
After telling me about this salon that she saw in the second estate and how she spoke with the owner who asked her to come back and start work because they are short staff
I was not cool with it. I have told her to hold on that she was going to work but I nee-ded to be sure of the kind of work she was very good at
To avoid getting bullied or insulted like the last ones.
But here she was leaving the house in my abs£nce and going around searching for job.
What if she gets lost or something bad happens to her out there.
She was un-der my care and since I took responsibility of accomod@t!ngher, I prefer she also stay home for the moment to avoid danger lur-k-ing around.
She neither has a phone nor any means to be reached.
If something happens, I won’t be able to even know where to start searching for her.
How do I reach her or how can she contact me without a phone.
Her only means is dailing my number on another stranger’s phone which I’m not even cool with.
I looked up at her with a frown plastered on my face.
I don’t know how to pretend or hide my displea-sure when I’m not plea-sed with the situation at hand.
My facial expressions says it all and I’m glad she was smart enough to un-derstand that I was not happy with her.
Even though she was looking so nice in one of the outfit I got for her two weeks ago when I took her for shopping.
I still had to say things as it is
“I told you that you should hold on for now Ezi…I thought we discussed this, why did you still have to leave the house while I was at work, without letting me know and go around searching for job…?
Her head was bent to the ground as she stood in front of where I sat.
Her hands folded behind her.
She looked up at me and said apologetically
“Is not like I wanted to disobey you, I really nee-ded a job so that I can also make money of my own and buy anything I wanted without depending on you for everything. I could have told you but I don’t how you will feel so I decided to wait until I get the job first… maybe when I tell you that I got a job you wouldn’t really mind. I hate to depend on people, I will rather work and have a little money of my own than to be given freely all the time. You feed and accommod@t£ me, you buy me personal stuffs and sometimes drop money for me for no reason. I de-eply appreciate it all but I can’t live off on you sir, you have your life and other important responsibility, I shouldn’t add mine to that. All of this wasn’t in your plan, but when I suddenly called for your help… you answered without hesitating. Giving me a roof over my head and treating me like you will do to your sister…is a blessing that I will never take for granted. I will never be comfortable sitting, eating and slee-ping all day when I should be out there doing something that will fetch me small money. I hate relying on people, I don’t like collecting anything from anyone…I will rather work and merit it. I’m really sorry sir… don’t be offended.
Have I mentioned to you that Eziaku was outspoken
Oh yes, she always expresses herself without fear of anyone or anything.
Some people will say ” if you re-move a girl from the village, you can’t re-move the village from her”
That’s a naysay, a packaged lie and nob©dy should believe that because is not true.
Eziaku has proven that to me.
Many city girls is not as outspoken as Eziaku, despite all the freedom they have.
I discovered that Eziaku is not the type anyone should cage.
If she feels threaten by her environment she crawls up and stay down but that’s not the kind of person she is.
She try to adapt to all situation thrown at her.
Right from the first day of meetings her, she never pretend or act what she wasn’t.
She was real and speak out boldly when she have to.
She was different village kind of girl and I like it.
“Is fine Ezi. I will get you a small phone something you can operate. You will also give me your Madam’s or whoever is in charge contact and the address to the salon. Do you un-derstand….
She nooded with a fat grin
“Yes sir, I un-derstand. Thank you sir but I wish to buy the phone whenever I get paid from the salon. I will be learning at the same time working. My madam said that she will pay me small money of ten thousand naira due to I will be learning too. But to me the money is not small… I was happy but my fear was that I didn’t know how you will feel about it. And now that we have resolved that… I’m very happy but I don’t want to bother you with my phone problem… you have done enough. Let me get it plea-se…
“Is okay…I would have let you buy the phone but that will take you a month before you get your pay. Don’t look at it like I’m buying the phone for you… rather see it like I lend the money to you. Since you want to do it…no problem which means I have to get the phone un-der loaning you which you will pay back…
I began to smile with the look on her face.
“… why do you have a strange face on?
“plea-se sir… buy cheap phone of ten thousand or fifteen so that I can pay back. If you buy expensive phone…it will take me months to pay you…
“Alright then. I will get an affordable phone. Go ahead and continue what you where doing. Don’t forget to get the contact of your employer and one more thing…be a good girl…”
She laughed out so loud.
“Yes sir. I’m always a good girl… thank you…so much.
She turned and left and I watched her leave.
Eziaku later started her work, I got the phone for her and taught her how to operate it.
I also got a new sim card for her.
After a month, she brou-ght her salary of twelve thousand five hundred.
She added that customers gave her ti-ps after they saw the way she was doing her job
Her salary was ten thousand plus the ti-ps she got.
I asked her to keep the money for me. She should keep seven thousand for me and take the rest.
The phone that I got for her was just thirty-five thousand. An Android that she can operate and after teaching her she learned how to use it.
She knew the phone was more than that but pla-yed along.
I like that about her.
Wait a second, why am I even liking everything about Eziaku?
Maybe because she has a likable personality.
She stayed for two months with me before starting work and has worked for a month plus
Almost eight months in Abuja which is close to a year and ever since I have come to know her she has not given me reason to worry or fright.
I was begining to think of giving another chance to love again.
But, I nee-ded an educated straight forward woman. A humble and modest lady with un-derstanding and kindness for others. Good appearance is a plus, although beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder and friendliness is another added plus
I’m not settling for anthing less this time, Abuja babes aren’t all bad.
Whenever I’m re-ady I will get someb©dy that will fit into my dream woman.
It may not get 100percent of everything but atleast I can bank with 70percent.
Eziaku is not really educated like I wish, she still has traces of not being expo-sed and that is a no for me.
She has other good quality except for the education p@rt
I like her, maybe a little bit more but I can’t let my emotions or her clos£ness gets in the way of my core de-sires in a dream woman.
I don’t want someb©dy like Stef that is over expo-sed.
Or Oby that pla-yed the red card on me and one of the reasons I still have fear in women.
Everything must be in moderate.
Talking about Stefanie, she was called by the police and had to sign the un-dertaking.
Ever since nothin was heard of her.
I have gotten lots of good clients and things are moving well unlike before.
I even employed a personal as-sistant who goes with me to different site seeing and doing some little job when I’m occu-pied with the big ones.
Angela is a BSC holder, very fluent in English, beautiful and smart.
She comes into my office sometimes to ask if I will like lunch or nee-d anything.
Angela was caring and I like that.
Eziaku only worked for another three months when she c@m£ back one day with a jean trou-ser, two t-shi-t and three singlet for me.
Eziaku went shopping for me to my bewilderment.
She also brou-ght suya and jui-ce home.
“Today isn’t my birthday…to what do I owe all this gift…?
I asked as she handed the bags to me.
“Is a thank you gift sir…I know is not upto the designers you wear but plea-se accept it. I appreciate you… words can’t describe how much grateful I am to you. God will continue to bless you…
I breathed de-eply while looking at her.
I felt de-eply emotional. I can’t remember the last time I received a sincere gift from a lady.
Eziaku kept surprising me.
I opened my arms and beckoned her to come for a hvg.
She was reluctant at first but c@m£ slowly.
I hvgged her for the first time and it felt real good holding her.
I re-leased her and thanked her for the gifts.
She brou-ght the suya and drink to me.
She was going back after dropping the tray
i asked her if she wasn’t eating.
“No, I bought it for you sir.
She replied.
I urged her to come over let’s eat together
She c@m£ and sat beside me and we went eating and drinking like cool friends.
After few days all I can think of is Eziaku.
I used to hear her talking over the phone in her room, I wondered who she was talking to.
I stood up one night to go and knock on her door when I couldn’t control myself anymore.
I couldn’t knock as I stood by her door, I turned and left
Does this mean that I have fallen in love with her.
I gaze at her while she eats or do anything. I can’t take my eyes off her.
I want to hvg her again, I want to k!ssherl-ips and hold her to myself.
Oh God, I think I’m going crazy.
What is wrong with me. I don’t want to scare off Eziaku yet I can’t help thinking of her.
She blu-shed more this days when she caught me looking at her.
She obviously likes me, so I thought.
Whenever my skin brushes hers, I feel like my head will explode.
I wondered why I’m worried over telling her how I feel, maybe due to my past drama with women
Eziaku likes me and this time it won’t be like the others.
She will help me erase my fear of women.
I’m re-ady to overlook whatever she lacks as a woman. I wanted her to be mine.
That Saturday evening was different.
I couldn’t hide my feeling anymore, while sitting in the living room, I try to pl@ydifferent scene of how to express myself to her.
When she c@m£ to sit in a next arm chair close to mine.
I stare at her, she turned and looked at me, smile and looked away before standing up.
“I will just go..go and… check if my phone is ringing…
She made attempt to leave
“plea-se wait Ezi, you have some p@rticles on your cheek…”
I said and it was actually true but that wasn’t what I had in mind to say.
She try to re-move it, I stood and went to her.
I stood very close to her that I can even feel her heartbeat.
I gently re-moved the p@rticles and other invisible dirts.
My hands travelled round face, i straightened her eye brow before bringing it down to her nose andl-ips.
I cu-mpped her face and k!$$£d her, she didn’t withdraw back.
I k!$$£d her hungrily, like I have never k!$$£d a woman before.
She was p@n-ting when she took a step away from me.
I was p@n-ting too, my emotions where at rage. I wanted her so much that I can’t hold back myself.
I try to t©uçh her but she took another step away and said.
“I have a b©yfri£ndsir…”
“Whaaat…”
Was the only word that left my mouth as she ran off to her room and left me standing in my confuses state.
Tbc